Chapter 5

Austin suddenly shot to his feet, looking as though he wanted to say something.

His gaze locked onto my bleeding heels, his brow furrowing tightly, a momentary flash of genuine concern flickering in his eyes.

But Natalie quickly caught his arm, tugging him back.

"Clara, don't say that out of anger. Austin really does care about you deep down."

I found it almost laughable.

Wasn't he the one who had abandoned me on the highway and ignored me on the street just hours ago?

What was the point of playing the devoted protector now?

"Mr. Hayes is right. I don't misunderstand anything. Have a good night, Natalie."

I slipped on my house slippers with a faint smile, stepped around them, and headed straight for the guest room.

Before I could take three steps, Austin grabbed my wrist with a dark, thunderous expression.

"Go make some late-night soup for Natalie."

I yanked my arm back forcefully. "Austin Hayes, hire a private chef. I'm exhausted."

"Clara Evans, have you forgotten your place?"

Austin leaned down, his voice dropping into a razor-sharp whisper near my ear.

He was using the orphanage against me again.

The paperwork to transfer the sponsorship hadn't been fully finalized yet. I couldn't afford to push him too far just yet.

"Fine. I'll make it right now."

I went into the kitchen and prepared sweet fermented rice balls with poached eggs—the one dish I made best.

Director Sarah had taught me how to make it years ago.

Inhaling the sweet, comforting aroma, my mind drifted back to the cold afternoon Director Sarah found me abandoned near the open-air market and brought me home. The very first meal she made for me was a warm bowl of sweet fermented rice.

A stray tear tracked down my cheek, tasting faintly bitter against my lips.

I wiped it away with the back of my hand, turned off the stove, and ladled the soup into two ceramic bowls.

Suddenly, I felt an intense gaze boring into my back. I turned around, but Austin was merely looking down at his phone, and Natalie was nowhere to be seen.

I pulled my gaze back. It must have been my imagination.

After placing the two bowls on the dining table, I looked at Austin.

"It's done."

He barely lifted his eyelids and said nothing.

"Austin, look at this!" Natalie rushed over, thrusting her phone in front of his face.

Austin glanced down at the screen, and his face instantly darkened like a brewing storm.

"Clara Evans, you really are something."

Grit-toothed, he shoved the phone right into my face.

I looked at the screen and froze.

"No, Austin, that's just a camera angle trick! I never did that!"

"That man suddenly leaned in close to me at the gala, but nothing happened between us!"

I pointed at the photo showing me seemingly kissing an unfamiliar man, desperately trying to explain.

"Then how do you explain this text?"

Natalie suddenly pulled my own phone out of her pocket, pointing to a newly received preview notification right before my eyes.

"Who gave you the right to go through my purse and touch my phone?!"

"Don't change the subject! The message literally says, "'Looking forward to seeing you.'" The person who sent this is the guy in the photo, isn't it?"

Natalie looked at me with smug certainty, a cruel glint flashing in her eyes.

Before I could get another word out, Austin looked at me with pure revulsion.

"Enough, Clara. Sleeping around is just second nature to a gold digger like you, isn't it?"

"Drop the innocent act. It makes me sick."

I stared at him in utter disbelief, the very last ember of hope in my chest dying out completely.

"If you never trusted me from the beginning, why keep me trapped by your side?"

Without another word, I grabbed my things and turned toward the door.

Opening the chat on my phone, I typed three words to the sender: "Come pick me up."

Then, I dropped my current location pin.